Air lift pumping apparatus



Dec. 1,l 1936.

R. W. SCOTT AIR LIFT PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept.y 30, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1936. R. w. scoTT Y AIR LIFT PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1.935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 1, 1936 AIR LIFT PUMPING APPARATUS Robert W. Scott, Chicago, Ill., assigner tp supivan Machinery Company, a corporation ofv Massachusetts Application September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,774

9 Claims.

My invention relates to air lift pumping apparatus, and more particularly to so-called footpieces for such pumping apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved air lift pumping apparatus. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved foot-piece for an air lift pumping apparatus. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved aerating device for a column of liquid, which shall be of particular utility in sewage disposal plants and the like. A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved aerating device which shall be especially adapted to aerate relatively large columns and to effect the raising through short distances of relatively heavy liquids, and which in certain forms may be adjusted to provide aeration at different positions in the column of material to be pumped. Still another object of`my invention is to provide an improved aerating device of the type mentioned, in which through the disposition of the orifices and the formation of the orifice carrying members, clogging due to the deposit of string or solid masses upon the aerating elements may be avoided. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one illustrative embodiment of a so-to-speak stationary foot-piece or aerating device is shown for purposes of illustration, together with three modied constructions embodied in adjustable type devices,-

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on the line I--I of Fig. 2, through a foot-piece or aerating device.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the foot-piece of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane of section line 33 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a vertical central section, through a modified form of footpiece or aerating device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the plane of section line 5-5 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 a central vertical section, through a further modied form of adjustable foot-piece or aerating device.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the plane of' section line '1 -'l of Fig. 8, and Fig. 8 a vertical central section, through a still further modified form of construction.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 initially, it will be observed that a casing I is secured by suitable flange connections 2 and 3, respectively to a riser pipe 4 and to a supply pipe 5. It will be understood that normally the (Cl. 10S-'232) liquid material to be pumped lls the supply pipe 5 and extends a substantialdistanceup inthe delivery pipe 4, and that upon adequate aeration of the liquid in the zone between the supply and delivery pipes, the head which maintainsthe nor--A 5 mal static level in the pipe 4 will cause a flow of the aerated and lightened column to a point of desired discharge. In theparticular embodiment shown, the pipes-4 and 5are of relatively large diameter, perhaps considerably more than a foot in diameter, land accordingly7 conventional forms of aerating devices or foot-pieces willnot discharge s'uicient air into the rising column of liquid` to eiect adequatelightening of the column to permit much pumping operation. Itis accordingly necessary to provide a much morerextensive aeration than with the .ordinary riser line of a very few inches in diameter. To accomplish this aeration more effectually, there is V provided within thecasing I, which has an en- 20 larged circular portion 6 to provide an air chamber 1, an inner sleeve member 8 having cylindri-r cal portions 9 and `I0 respectively fitting the smaller'portions II and I2 of the casing I which are respectively nearer the flange connections v2 and 3.` Between lthecylindrical portions 9 and I0 there is a bulged or enlarged Wall portion I4 upon the member4 8, this bulging beinguprovided for a plurality lof useful purposes. In the first f, place, the bulging offsets in some measureV the 30 reduction in iiow area which will be understood' to' be caused by the presence of the auxiliary aera'ting means shortly to be described. In the second place, there is some-though perhaps not avery large-increase in thesurface area through which the aerating passages may be formed.

The portion I4 ofthe member 9 supports aplurality of relatively narrow, radiallyrinwardly projecting rib or iin-like portions I6, I1, I'8-and"`I9l, each of which is provided with relatively Yparallelv wallst20 converging, as at. 2I, to form relatively sharpedges V22, the several edges 22 beingspaced from each otherfr'iear the center of. the column.A The aerating Vportions I6, I1, I8 and I9 are each. formed witha curved bottom portion, theedges 445 22, which are relatively upright'and parallel to the axis 'of the riser pipe at theirupper portions,V curving smoothly inwardly, as at V2?, to merge into thevlower cylindrical portion I2. The tops of the members I6, I1, I8 and I9 may becomparatively horizontal, andthe upper, portions of these membersare desirably'streamlined, at 24, to provide minimum `interferencewith ow. By reason: or thecur'vaturaas at 2 3,thedeposite ing and adherence of solid matter in thek material 21 so that considerable quantities of air may bev delivered very eiectually into the diiferent quadrants of the rising liquid column.' `'I'here is further provided jet means 29 in`theform of belts of jets extending circumierentially through the',

wall of the portion I4, and all of these jets also communicate with the space` 1. It will therefore be noted that the rising column ofliquid issubvided into a plurality of sector-like subdivisons and each ofgthese subdivisionsis provided with aerating means both along its bounding radii and along its bounding are- Obviously, the orifices or jets 29fmay be extended for greater or lesser vertical distances, as may be needed under the circumstances, and the number of subdivisions varied.

'Ihe mode of operationof this form of the invention will be readily understood from what has been said. Asl above noted, the material to be pumped will, in the absence of air supply to the chamber 1, llthe supply pipe 5 and the spaces within the aerating. or foot-piece device, and eX- tendupwardly a substantial distance into the delivery or riser pipe 4. Upon the supply of air to the chamber 1, the air will displace any liquid whichk may have attained access to the chamber 1* through the various jets 21 and 29, and the air will then discharge through the jets in a belt of a width, vertically determined by the Width of the eld of orifices which has been forme-d in the wall Mand in the aerating elements I6, I1, I8 and I9. The air will enter nearly all the parts of the liquid column and,'beca use the aerating devices are arrangedas shown land described, there will be but little area in thecomplete cross section of the column which will not bereached by the air discharging through the various jets. As a result, the `lightened column of liquid material will be moved `upward by the head available and the sewage or vsuch other material asfmay be handled by this apparatus, will bedelivered to the storage tankor vat or other point of delivery desired.

' Assuming a` column diameter of a foot, which would be, as indicated, a small `size for an aerating device of this character, it will be evident that a jet1 penetration of only a very` few inches would be necessary completelyto aerate'the entire column. VIt will be noted, moreover, that due tothe shape vof the curve at 2 3, and the narrowness and i streamlining of the elements I6, I1, I8 and I9,

flow will be interfered with'to aminimum degree, andthe possibility of solids becoming attached t or sticking to the aerating device is greatly reduced.' v c Y v Now referring to the other forms of the invention shown onvthe second sheet of the drawings, it will be observed' that inieach Aof the three species there illustrated'the foot-piece or aerating device is made verticallyadjustable, in each case there being elongated sleeve-like portions 9 and I0 slidably arranged vwithin cylindricall portions I I and' I2 withjwhich theportions 9' and I0 haveaclose sliding telescopic fit. rAs. a result height of the foot-piece or aerating device, and since the static level of the material to be pumped is only a few feet in sewage disposal work, a relatively short vertical adjustment of the aerating device will provide substantial advantage in the control of the pumping operation.

In the species illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the sleeve-like portions 9 and I0 are connected by an aerating portion 3| (generally cylindrical in cross section and having a series of four web-like portions 32 extending inwardly into communication with each other, as at 33. The web-like portions have relatively horizontal Vtops 34, appropriately streamlined if desired, and upwardly tapering bottom portions 35, also suitably'streamlined if desired. Jets 36 are formed through the opposite walls of the portions 32, and also in the same horizontal zone circumferentially through the wall of the portion 3I, as at 31. An adjusting rod 38 is connected, as at 39, at about the point of juncture of the portions 32. It will be noted that the supply connection 40 opens into a longer chamber 1 in the casing 6', and that a vertical adjustment of from some inches to a foot or more is possible, depending upon the relative length of the telescopic connections at 9', II and I0', I2. This form of the invention has the advantage of the adjustability of the foot-piece or aerating device, but is, because of its construction, less free, somewhat, from the possibility of having string or other solid matter adhere to and interfere with the operation of the aerating device.

In Figs. and 6, instead of having four quadrantly arranged portions 32, a diametrically extending portion 42 having discharge orices 43 is provided, and at its center the foot-piece is provided with a suitably streamlined chamber portion 44, whose arcuate walls in the spaces between the junction therewith of the portions 42 are traversed by orifices 45. rIhe elevating rod 46 is connected, in this form, to the top of the streamlined member 44. Aside from these particular differences, the arrangement is quite similar to that of Figs. 3 and 4.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a further arrangement is shown. This form includes an elevating rod 49 connected at 5B to a bridge element 5I which extends across the vertical bore provided by the inner wall 52 of an annular mixing chamber 53 spaced radially inward from the outermost belt 54 of orices and supported by a pair of diametrically opposite, relatively narrow, short support and aerating portions 55. It will be noted that the bottom of themember 53 is suitably formed, as at 56, to reduce flow resistance, and that the top is streamlined, as at 51, further to reduce ilow resistance. It will be noted that the outerl wall 58 of the portion 53 is traversed by orifices 59, whilethe inner wall '52 is traversed by orices 60. Accordingly, this device will break up the rising column of liquid into a central column passing through the member 53 and an annular column broken by the members 55 passing through the otherwise annular space 6I between the wall 58 and the wall traversed by the orifices 54. This form of apparatus will obviously provide a Very thorough aeration of the rising column, for the radial dimension of the central rising column may be made comparatively small, and the annular zone 6I, being aerated from both its inner and outer sides and also chordially in the portion 55, will be most eiectually aerated.

there .lwill be possible aflimitedchange in the lit will be obvious that in all the forms 'of my u invention thoroughly reliable and rugged aerating devices or footpieces are provided. In some, provision for vertical adjustment is made. In all, streamlining is resorted to to such extent as may be most advantageous. In all, there is at least one annularly extending belt of aerating orices. In all, there are at least some radially extending aerating portions. In some, sectorial division of the rising column is practiced; while in others the form of an annular rising column-in one instance with a central column also-is disclosed; and in all cases a most eiective aeration is insured by extremely short (compared with the transverse dimension of the riser pipe) travel of aerating fluid.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, and three modifications thereof, it will be understood that these are shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be further modied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an air lift aerating device, means forming an air chamber and having a wall generally circular in cross section separating said chamber from and forming a passageway for a rising liquid column, a belt of aerating orifices traversing said wall, and radially extending portions connected to said wall and having relatively parallel walls between which are chambers communieating with said air chamber and through which relatively parallel walls extend orlces opening into the rising liquid column.

2. In a foot-piece, a casing providing a chamber, an internal member within said chamber providing a wall and cooperating with the casing to provide an annular space to which aerating uid may be admitted, a plurality of orifices through said wall, and means within the confines of said wall providing aerating means projecting radially into the space surrounded by said wall and having upwardly inclined bottom portions whose highest portions are most adjacent the center of said foot-piece, to facilitate ilow.

3. In a foot-piece, means forming an annular belt of air orifices, and means providing a plurality of radially extending aerating devices extending inwardly from said iirst mentioned means and having aerating orices discharging at right angles to their radial directions.

4. In a foot-piece, aerating means dividing a column of liquid to be aerated into four quadrantal subdivisions and having oriflces arranged to discharge into said subdivisions along both bounding radii and along the arc thereof.

5. In an air lift foot-piece, means providing an annular belt of aerating orifices, and communicating means providing a diametric zone of aerating orifices, said last mentioned means having between its ends means providing an enlarged chamber having orifices arranged in the walls thereof and discharging radially outwardly.

6. In an air-lift foot-piece, means providing an annular belt of aerating orifices, and communieating means providing a diametric zone of aerating orifices, said last mentioned means having between its ends means providing an enlarged chamber having orifices arranged in the walls thereof and ydischarging radially outwardly.

7. In an air lift aerating device, means forming an air chamber including a Wall generally circular in cross section .separating said chamber from and forming a passageway for a rising liquid column, a belt of aerating orifices traversing said wall, and radially extending portions connected to said wall and having radially extending walls bounding chambers communicating with said air chamber and through which radially extending walls lare formed orifices opening into the rising liquid column.

8. In a foot piece, a casing providing a chamber, and an internal member within said chamber casing cooperating with the latter to provide an annular space to which aerating fluid may be admitted, said internal member comprising portions forming a peripheral Wall and hollow iinlike portions extending inwardly from the peripheral portions of said internal member and tapering in radial dimension from a maximum inward projection at their tops to merge into said wall at their lower ends, saidl fin-like portions having their interiors communicating with said annular space and having aerating orifices in their lateral walls.

9. In a foot piece, means for confining and guiding a rising column of liquid, and means for admitting thereto an aerating fluid including oriced surfaces extending in directions at right angles to each other and an arcuate oriiiced surface to which said right angularly arranged surfaces are normal.A

ROBERT W. SCOTT.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2,062,799. December l, 1956.

ROBERT W. SCOTT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of` the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 19-20, for "subvided" read subdivided,- and second column,line

.9, after the numeral. "5l" inserta comma and'strike out the parenthesis before the syllable "gener-"; page 5, secon column, line 51E-55, claim 8k, strike-out the word "chamber"; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to 'the record of the Case in thevpatent office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of October, A. D. 195'?.a

Henrj Van Arsdale. (Seal) A Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

